Miss Bristol Rents a Room by Tom Hoffman is an enchanting urban fantasy that begins with a woman’s collapse on a Brooklyn sidewalk in 2025 and unravels into a century-old mystery. Dressed in attire fit for 1910 and possessing no memory of who she is, the young woman begins to piece together her identity after finding an old photograph from Teotihuacan, Mexico. As memories return, she realizes she is Miss Bristol, who was born in 1885 and somehow transported through time. What follows is a whimsical, poignant tale of self-discovery, historical intrigue, and reinvention, as Miss Bristol navigates the challenges of the modern world while confronting her storied past. Blending magical realism with warm humor and a deeply human core, Hoffman invites readers into a tale where memory, time, and identity intertwine.

Author Tom Hoffman has a brilliant passion and commitment to historical detail to bring this story to life, but that level of detail also extends into his plotting and internal logic for a time-travel mystery that actually makes sense. There are layers of heart, humor, and historical richness on top of these brilliant plot devices, and Hoffman’s imaginative voice breathes life into a truly original heroine to take us through the emotional shifts of the story as well as the brilliant twists and surprises. Through some poignant commentary on identity and adaptation, it’s interesting to see how this novel could reach so many different people from different walks of life as they relate to the story of displacement and discovery of what makes us who we are. With all of this fantastic whimsy around her and a superb focus on psychological narration and emotional moments of reflection and depth, Miss Bristol becomes a truly memorable character whose charm lingers long after the last page, feeling like an old friend you’d love to see again. Overall, Miss Bristol Rents a Room is a highly recommended read for fans of creative historical fiction and credible magical realism with a lot of heart.

In New York in 2025, Miss Bristol staggers out of an alley, not knowing who she is or where she is from. This is how author Tom Hoffman introduces us to the heroine in Miss Bristol Rents a Room. To add to the intrigue, she is carrying a newspaper dated 1910 and is dressed in clothes in fashion at that time. We are next taken to an archaeological dig in 1910 with more than a hint of the supernatural, or are these remnants of visiting aliens from centuries long ago? Here, she falls in love, but there are evil forces at work, and one of the party threatens to upset the world order. There are many questions to be answered. Why do the people helping Miss Bristol seem familiar? While battling with a modern world, little by little, Miss Bristol’s memories return, but she is not the only one to remember a past life.

Miss Bristol Rents a Room by Tom Hoffman is a fun read. The characters are likable, especially Miss Bristol, but we never did discover her first name. Two things I especially liked were, first, the contrast in society from the early twentieth century to modern times. Was it more genteel? Were the morals and ethics better? The second point was the intense change in technology in the last hundred years. Miss Bristol was unfamiliar with so many things, such as credit cards, cell phones, and modern transport. Readers may be surprised to note how much has changed, including the introduction of pizza at fast food joints. There is a second layer to this delightful cozy mystery with a touch of the paranormal, such as can altruism overcome greed and power? Despite the very satisfactory ending, Hoffman has left us wondering if there is going to be a sequel. If so, I shall look forward to reading it.

Miss Bristol Rents a Room by Tom Hoffman follows Miss Bristol, who appears mysteriously in 2025 Brooklyn with amnesia and belongings from 1910, trying to maneuver through the modern world while uncovering fragments of her forgotten past. She is helped by Ben and Mrs. Wiggins and starts working for Mrs. Smith, who has an uncanny fascination with Mesoamerican artifacts. Miss Bristol discovers a key linking her to a 1910 archaeological expedition to Teotihuacan, where she and Professor Arthur Hollingsworth, along with Professor Wexley, uncovered an extraordinary cache of items and technology that are centuries beyond their time. The story intertwines Miss Bristol’s lost identity, Arthur's similar circumstances, and the looming threat of betrayal by those hungry to exploit their findings for luxury and power, and threatening their lives.

Tom Hoffman’s Miss Bristol Rents a Room impresses with its clear, straightforward prose and careful attention to historical detail. The result is a great mix of mystery and early 20th-century archaeology. The pacing is well-balanced, and even with there being a lot of information on ancient history, there is never any excessive exposition. The characters feel authentic and relatable, particularly when the fragmented memories of Miss Bristol and Arthur start piecing themselves together. On top of this, Hoffman sparked my curiosity, and I found myself looking up both the ancient period and the age of Edwardian discoveries. Moreover, the textured descriptions of New York and Teotihuacan brought the settings to life. This novel succeeds not only as an adventure but also as a thoughtful meditation on identity and the unknown, delivering a satisfying story that is a rewarding read for those interested in history wrapped in an intelligent, well-crafted mystery. Very highly recommended.